National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

The twelve devas are the guardians of the four quarters and four semi-quarters, up and down, and the sun and moon. Jiten (“earth deva”), also known as Kenrojin (“solid earth deity”), symbolizes the earth and guards the downward direction. His counterpart is Bonten (Skt., Brahman), who guards the upward direction. The rich colors and decorative frame give this hanging scroll a luminous beauty that is representative of late-Heian (794-1185) aristocratic tastes.